Basement membranes are thin extracellular sheets that surround muscle, fat and peripheral nerve cells and underlay epithelial and endothelial cells. Laminins are one of the main protein families of these matrices. Integrins and dystroglycan are receptors for laminins, connecting cells to basement membranes. Each laminin consists of three different chains, (α, β, γ). Laminin-1 (α1β1γ1) was the first laminin to be found and is the most frequently studied. Despite this, it was unclear where its α1 chain was expressed. A restricted distribution of the α1 chain in the adult epithelial basement membranes was demonstrated in the present study. In contrast, dystroglycan was found to have a much broader distribution. Dystroglycan is an important receptor for α2-laminins in muscle, but binds also α1-laminins. The more ubiquitous α5-laminins were also shown to bind dystroglycan, but with distinctly lower affinity than α1- and α2- laminins. The biological roles of different laminin isoforms have been investigated. Differences were found in the capacity of various tested laminins to promote epithelial cell adhesion. The α5-laminins were potent adhesive substrates, a property shown to be dependent on α3 and α6 integrins. Each receptor alone could promote efficient epithelial cell adhesion to α5-laminins. Yet, only α6 integrin and in particular the α6A cytoplasmic splice variant could be linked to laminin-mediated activation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) pathway. Attachment to either α1- or α5-laminins activated extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) in cells expressing the integrin α6A variant, but not in cells expressing α6B. A new role for dystroglycan as a suppressor of this activation was demonstrated. Dystroglycan antibodies, or recombinant fragments with high affinity for dystroglycan, decreased ERK activation induced by integrin α6 antibodies. Integrin αvβ3 was identified as a novel co-receptor for α5-laminin trimers. Cell attachment to α5-laminins was found to facilitate growth factor induced cell proliferation. This proliferation could be blocked by antibodies against integrin αvβ3 or by an inhibitor of the MEK/ERK pathway. Therefore, integrin αvβ3 binding to α5-laminins could be of biological significance.

The formation and maintenance of tissues in multicellular animals are crucially dependent on cellular interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM). Two different studies on such interactions are presented herein. Studies on expression of laminins in normal and dystrophic skeletal muscle, clarified a much debated issue regarding discrepancies seen for laminin α1-chain expression between human and mouse tissues. Lack of laminin α1-chain expression was verified in both mouse and human skeletal muscle. Furthermore, the earlier discrepancies seen for laminin α1-chain expression was explained by showing that an antibody-reagent, commonly used in human studies, recognised the laminin α5-chain rather than the laminin α1-chain The integrin α11-chain (forming α11β1 integrin) is the latest addition to the integrin receptor family, and belongs to the I domain-containing group of integrin α-chains. Previous studies had shown that α11β1 is a collagen receptor. In the present study, the in vitro and in vivo functions of the α11-chain were further characterised. Distribution studies on embryonic human and mouse tissues showed that the α11-chain was expressed on mesenchymal cells in the developing tendon, perichondrium, intervertebral disc, and cornea. The interactions of α11β1 integrin with collagen type I and IV were studied in vitro. The α11β1 bound to these collagens in a manner similar to integrin α2β1 (with collagen type I being the preferred ligand for α11β1). Furthermore, α11β1 was shown to mediate migration on collagen type I coated surfaces, and to mediate contraction of collagen type I gels. The in vivo functions of the α11-chain were investigated by the generation of integrin α11-chain null-mice, using gene targeted disruption of the itga11 in embryonic stem cells. Two independent lines of mice lacking α11 protein were generated. Phenotypic analysis of these mice indicated a role for α11β1 in the formation of the musculoskeletal system.

Migration of T-lymphocytes on a surface coated with extracellular matrix (ECM) components (two-dimensional (2-D) migration) and migration (infiltration) into a matrix (Three-dimesional (3-D) migration) are complex events and the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Here 2-D and 3-D migration were studied by use of seven leukemic T-cell lines representing discrete differentiation stages, a non-leukemic T-cell clone, and normal peripheral blood T cells. peripheral blood lymphocytes and the T-cell clone produced nanogram quantities of various chemokines, as compared to a production of ≤ 0.05 ng/ml by the T leukemia cell lines. In a Boyden chamber system, the leukemic T-cell lines showed haptotactic migration on fibronectin. The migration was augmented bu exposure to chemokines, including RANTES, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and IL-8. The T-cell lines showed a peak response at a chemokine concentration of 10-50 ng/ml, whereas the T-cell clone responded optimally at 100 ng/ml. In contrast to a general capability of T-cells to migrate on 2-D ECM, only some of the T-cell lines were capable of 3-D migration into Matrigel or a collagen matrix. The infiltrative capacity was unrelated to the capacity to migrate on or adhere to the substrata. T-cell lines with a capacity to infiltrate produced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), whereas non-infiltrating cell lines did not produce MMP-9. T-cell lines capable of infiltrating Matrigel or collagen responded to chemokines exposure with increased infiltration, but the chemokines did not render non-infiltrative cell lines infiltrative. Stimulation of infiltration of T-cell lines into collagen by the chemokine SDF-1α was inhibited by somatostatin, a neuropeptide with immunosuppressive properties. In conclusion, the ability to migrate on 2-D substrata and to infiltrate into 3.D substrata was found to be distinguishable properties of T cells. failure of some T-cell lines to infiltrate correlated with the lack of expression of MMP-9. Chemokines stimulated infiltration of infiltrative T-cell lines into collagen and Matrigel but did not render non-infiltrative T-cell lines infiltrative. Finally, a possible physiological mechanism for modulation of the chemokine-stimulated 3-D migration was demonstrated.

Blood vessels transport blood with essential nutrients and oxygen to the cells in our body. In a healthy adult, formation of new vessels (angiogenesis) occurs only in case of tissue repair and growth. Physiological angiogenesis requires precise regulation of multiple signaling components, a process which is deregulated in a number of pathological conditions, such as cancer. This thesis is focused on the role of laminins, heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A in regulation of vascular development and angiogenesis. As a model, we have used embryonic stem cells that differentiate to form blood vessels in a manner faithfully recapitulating the in vivo processes. We show that the basement membrane (BM) protein laminin-111 promotes maturation of endothelial cells in the presence of fibroblast growth factor-2, a known endothelial cell mitogen. However, embryonic stem cells are able to differentiate into endothelial cells also in the absence of laminin deposition in the vascular BM. Sprouting angiogenesis, induced by VEGF-A, is also not strictly dependent on laminin deposition. On the other hand, in the absence of laminins, vessels are enlarged. These data suggest an important role for laminins in regulation of the vessel diameter. We also show that HSPGs serve as coreceptors for VEGF-A to regulate vascular development. The mode of presentation of HSPGs, in cis (on the endothelial cell) or in trans (on an adjacent cell such as pericytes), is critical in regulation of VEGF receptor-2 activation and stimulation of vascular development. Binding of VEGF-A to HSPGs in trans leads to accumulation of activated VEGFR-2 in endothelial cells and to prolonged signaling. This demonstrates a potential role for HSPGs in regulation of receptor trafficking and signaling kinetics, with possible implications also for other HS-binding ligand/receptor systems.

With over 50,000 deaths and 80,000 disorders annually in the United States resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI), there is a demand for improved therapeutic strategies. Cell transplantation offers the potential to treat TBI by targeting multiple mechanisms in a sustained fashion. However, efforts are needed to improve survival and integration of transplanted cells, and ultimately enhance functional recovery. Using tissue engineering strategies, we aimed to mimic key aspects of fetal tissue grafts by combining neural stem cells with a fibronectin or laminin based scaffold that could be delivered to the injured brain in a minimally invasive fashion. We found that the incorporation of extracellular matrix proteins into a cell transplantation paradigm led to improved donor cell survival and restored cognitive ability for treated animals. To begin to examine how fibronectin and laminin mediate these improvements, we first examined the endogenous role of these two proteins in the injured brain. Using a clinically-relevant model of TBI, we found both proteins are increased in the injured brain at acute time points. The spatial localization of fibronectin and laminin with specific support cells in the brain suggests a role for these proteins in repair, warranting further investigation. Using conditional plasma fibronectin knockout animals, we found that fibronectin is neuroprotective to the traumatically injured brain. Specifically, injured fibronectin knockout animals had more severe motor and cognitive deficits, increased cell death, and decreased retention of phagocytic cells compared to injured wild type animals. Thus, we have identified novel therapeutic treatments for TBI which utilize tissue engineered transplants and/or exploit endogenous repair mechanisms for fibronectin.

Embryonic epiboly has become an important developmental model for studying the mechanisms underlying collective movements of epithelial cells. In the last couple of decades, most studies of epiboly have utilized Xenopus or zebrafish as genetically tractable model organisms, while the avian epiboly model has received virtually no attention. Here, we re-visit epiboly in quail embryos and characterize several molecular markers of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the inner zone of the extraembryonic Area Opaca and at the blastoderm edge. Our results show that the intermediate filament vimentin, a widely-used marker of the mesenchymal phenotype, is strongly expressed in the edge cells compared to the cells in the inner zone, and that epiboly is inhibited when embryos are treated with Withaferin-A, a vimentin-targeting drug. Laminin, an extracellular matrix protein that is a major structural and adhesive component of the epiblast basement membrane, is notably absent from the blastoderm edge, and shows three distinct morphological regions approaching the leading edge. While these expression profiles are consistent with a mesenchymal phenotype, several other epithelial markers, including cytokeratin, β-catenin, and E-cadherin, were present in the blastoderm edge cells. Moreover, the results of a BrDU proliferation assay suggest that expansion of the edge cell population is primarily due to recruitment of cells from the inner zone, and not proliferation. Taken together, our data suggest that the edge cells of the avian blastoderm have characteristics of both epithelial and mesenchymal cells, and could serve as an in-vivo model for cancer and wound healing studies.

Cleaved fragments of the extracellular matrix protein perlecan have been shown to promote neuroprotection and repair after ischemic stroke. The cysteine proteases cathepsin B and L as well as the metalloprotease bone morphogenic protein 1 (BMP-1) are capable of releasing the biologically active C-terminal laminin-like globular domain (LG3) of perlecan. Exercise, a known method of reducing stroke risk and severity, has been shown to increase the expression of some proteases associated with perlecan processing. Using a transient distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) model for focal ischemic stroke we show that while 7 days of running only slightly decreased infarct volume, BMP1 and perlecan (HSPG2) RNA expression in skeletal muscle was significantly increased in 3-month-old male wild type C57/BL6 mice. Moreover, elevated levels of BMP1 RNA were still detectable after 3 days of detraining, suggesting a prolonged effect of exercise on BMP1 expression. Levels of LG3 in the blood were below the limit of detection in the current study, however it is likely that a more sensitive method would enable analysis of serum. These preliminary findings suggest that LG3 could be a molecular mediator of neuroprotection afforded by exercise though further studies are required.

Le facteur de transcription HIF-1 est un hétérodimère composé d’une sous-unité α et d’une sous-unité ß. HIF-1 est capable de reconnaître une séquence consensus appelée HRE (HIF Response Element) et de réguler l’expression de plus de 200 gènes cibles impliqués dans divers mécanismes cellulaires. Nous nous intéressons à étudier le rôle de HIF-1α dans la peau, d’une part dans la régulation des enzymes de la réparation de l’ADN suite à l’irradiation UVB, d’autre part dans la physiologie cutanée.Nos résultats montrent bien que HIF-1α régule l’expression des gènes participant à la réparation de l’ADN (XPC et XPD). Ces gènes contiennent dans leurs régions promotrices des HRE de HIF-1α. La quantification de l’immunoprécipitation de chromatine révèle des HRE putatifs dans les gènes codant pour d'autres protéines de la réparation de l'ADN (XPB, XPG, CSA et CSB), ce qui suggère que HIF-1α est un régulateur clé de la machinerie de réparation de l'ADN. Nous avons prouvé que HIF-1α est indispensable à l’adhésion des kératinocytes par sa régulation exercée sur la laminine-332 et les intégrines (α6 et ß1). L’absence de l’expression de HIF-1α empêche aussi la reconstruction des épidermes à partir des kératinocytes humains. Nos résultats ont montré que les souris invalidées pour HIF-1α développent avec l’âge un phénotype d’inflammation dans plusieurs régions. Ces souris sont très sensibles au moindre stress consécutif à une blessure et une irradiation UVB. L’induction de l’inhibition de HIF-1α dans des souris inductibles avec le tamoxifène indique un détachement de l’épiderme au niveau des couches supra-basales. Ces souris meurent deux semaines après injection du tamoxifène / The transcription factor HIF-1 is a heterodimer composed of an α and ß subunit. HIF-1 is capable of recognizing a consensus sequence called HRE (hypoxia Response Element) and regulate the expression of more than 200 target genes involved in various cellular mechanisms. We are interested in studying the role of HIF-1α in the skin physiology.Our results show that HIF-1α regulates the expression of two main factors (XPC and XPD) involved in nucleotide excision repair through binding on HRE in their promoter regions. Quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation assays further revealed putative HREs in the genes encoding other DNA repair proteins (XPB, XPG, CSA and CSB), suggesting that HIF-1α is a key regulator of the DNA repair machinery. We proved that HIF-1α is essential for keratinocyte adhesion through its regulation exerted on laminin-332 and integrins (α6, ß1). The lack of HIF-1α expression also prevents the reconstruction of epidermis by human keratinocytes. Our results showed that mice constitutively depleted for HIF-1α in their epidermis develop with age a phenotype of inflammation in several regions. These mice are very sensitive to the stress resulting from wound injury and UVB irradiation. HIF-1α depletion in the epidermis of inducible mice using tamoxifen results in a detachment of the epidermis in suprabasal layers. These mice die within two weeks after injection of tamoxifen

O câncer de mama é importante problema de saúde pública. O microambiente onde as células cancerígenas se encontram possui moléculas como a laminina e seus peptídeos bioativos, que influenciam a biologia tumoral. Estudo anterior realizado no laboratório demonstrou que o peptídeo C16, derivado da laminina, aumenta a expressão gênica de GPNMB e SPOCK1. Nesse trabalho, demonstramos que o peptídeo C16 aumentou níveis moleculares de GPNMB e SPOCK em células malignas MDA-MB-231e MCF-7, comparado com células normais MCF-10A. C16 estimulou significantemente a invasão de células MDA-MB-231. Silenciamento de GPNMB diminuiu a invasão celular desencadeada por C16. Contextualizando in vivo nossos resultados in vitro, imunohistoquímica em tissue microarrays mostrou que a presença de GPNMB e SPOCK é significantemente maior em câncer de mama. Assim, C16 regula os níveis de GPNMB e SPOCK em células mamárias malignas. C16 e GPNMB cooperam regulando a invasão de células MDA-MB-231. GPNMB e SPOCK foram mais detectados em câncer de mama comparado com mama normal. / Breast cancer is an important public health. The microenvironment in which cancer cells are found contains molecules such as laminin and its bioactive peptides that influence tumor biology. Previous study conducted in the laboratory showed that the C16 peptide derived from laminin, increases the gene expression of GPNMB and SPOCK1. In this work, we demonstrate that the C16 peptide increased molecular levels of GPNMB and SPOCK in malignant cells MDA-MB-231e MCF-7 cells compared with normal cells MCF-10A. C16 significantly stimulated invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. GPNMB silencing decreased cell invasion triggered by C16. Contextualizing in vivo our in vitro results, tissue microarrays immunohistochemistry showed that the presence of GPNMB and SPOCK are significantly higher in breast cancer. Thus, C16 regulates the levels of GPNMB and SPOCK in malignant breast cells. C16 and cooperate GPNMB regulating the invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. SPOCK and GPNMB were more detected in breast cancer compared to normal breast.

O câncer de próstata é o segundo câncer mais freqüentemente diagnosticado em homens. Durante o crescimento tumoral, as células neoplásicas interagem com a matriz extracelular (MEC). Analisamos o efeito de C16, peptídeo derivado da clivagem da MEC, sobre a migração, invasão e regulação dos invadopódios em células de câncer de próstata (DU145). Ensaios de migração e invasão demonstraram que C16 promoveu um aumento da atividade migratória e invasiva de células DU145 de maneira dose dependente. Demonstramos que o peptídeo estimula a fosforilação de Src. Ensaios de degradação em substrato fluorescente mostraram que C16 promoveu a formação de invadopódios de células DU145. O immunoblot nos revelou que este peptídeo também estimula a expressão de Tks4, Tks5, cortactina e MT1-MMP. C16 estimulou a produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio, importantes para o fenótipo invasivo das células tumorais. Nossos resultados sugerem que o peptídeo C16 regula migração, invasão, invadopódios e suas moléculas-chave e a geração de espécies reativas de oxigênio em células DU145. / Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in males. During tumor growth, neoplastic cells interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) Our Laboratory has demonstrated that peptides derived from ECM cleavage are involved in migration, invasion and invadopodia formation in different tumor cell lines. Invadopodia activity depends on expression of the proteins Tks4, Tks5, cortactin, MT1-MMP, as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Migration and invasion assays in chemotaxis chambers demonstrated that C16 increased migration and invasion activities of DU145 cells in a dose-dependent manner. We observed that the peptide stimulated phosphorylation of Src. Fluorescent substrate degradation assay showed that C16 increased invadopodia activity of DU145 cells. Immunoblot revealed that this peptide stimulated Tks4, Tks5, cortactin and MT1-MMP expression. Furthermore, C16 increased ROS production. Our results strongly suggested that C16 regulates migration, invasion, invadopodia key-molecules, and ROS generation in DU145 cells.